Five NYC Ballot Questions Explained Ahead of November 3 Election

Five ballot questions proposed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Commission on Government Efficiency appear on the November 3 ballot alongside state and federal races, with early voting opening Saturday, October 24. Question 1 streamlines approvals for outdoor dining, cutting projected approval times from eight months to two months. Question 2 allows the Procurement Policy Board to tailor vendor paperwork by contract size, with some timelines projected to shrink by around 30 days. Question 3 combines three changes: simplifying bike-lane and bus-lane approvals, expediting sales of small city-owned properties under 10,000 square feet, and easing office-space leasing oversight, with projected savings exceeding 200 million dollars. Question 4 creates a centralised construction-permitting hub consolidating 40 permits from 18 agencies, targeting a launch of December 1, 2029. Question 5 sets a rainy-day fund reserve target of at least 12 percent of the prior fiscal year's tax revenue, though actual deposits still require budget approval.